Two men injured after leopard attack

TWO men are recovering in the Outjo State Hospital, having narrowly escaped death after being attacked by a leopard.

The incident occurred in the Anabeb Conservancy, about 35 km southeast of Sesfontein on May 14. According to Colin Nott, a co-ordinator for Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), community game guard Kauhepere Musaso and conservancy resident Albertus Kasaona are being treated for bite and scratch wounds to their hands and arms.Apparently two conservancy game guards, Epson Mbunguha and Musaso, were called in by a local farmer to investigate stock predation.They were accompanied by the farmer’s son, Kasoana.The three men found cheetah spoor around the stock enclosure where problems had been experienced and presumed the predator was a cheetah.They waited nearby to see if the animal would return.According to Nott, stock became restless around midnight.”As it was full moon, the men were able to see an animal disappear into nearby bushes, about 20 metres from where they were standing.Thinking it was a cheetah, they threw rocks into the bushes in an attempt to scare it away,” Nott told The Namibian.Suddenly, a leopard emerged and sprang at Kasoana, taking hold of one arm and knocking him to the ground.Although he was armed with a rifle, he was not able to shoot the animal before it attacked him and he dropped the rifle.Musaso managed to clamber on top of the animal and began to wrestle it off Kasoana.”This action probably saved Kasoana’s life,” commented Nott.But the leopard then turned its attention to Musaso and attacked him, injuring his arms.Musaso shouted to Kasoana to shoot the predator, but he was not able to pick up or use the rifle due to injuries he had sustained.”Musaso managed to grab the rifle and shot the leopard through the lungs.The body of the animal went limp and the pair presumed that the animal was dead,” Nott continued.But the ordeal was not over.The leopard sprang to life and again attacked Musaso.Meanwhile Mbunghe, who had managed to run away when the animal first attacked, secured the leopard by the leg and hacked at it with a panga.He chopped at it several times, causing head injuries, and continued to do so until the animal was obviously dead.The men were taken to the Sesfontein Clinic, before they were rushed through to the State Hospital at Opuwo, where they received tetanus injections.They were later moved to the Outjo State Hospital where they are currently receiving anti-infection treatment.Both men have extensive injuries to their hands and arms.According to Windhoek Veterinarian Ulf Tubbesing, who has extensive experience with leopards, the animals rarely attack humans unless provoked.Although he was unfamiliar with the details of the incident, he felt there must have been a trigger that aggravated the leopard.”Depending on whether the animal was male or female, it could have been protecting kittens or protecting a kill.It could also have felt trapped and been provoked by the men when they threw rocks at it.It is interesting that it did not move off when this happened.”He commented that leopards are one of the most frequent cats to be found in the veld but rarely attack humans, and if they do, they usually growl as a warning beforehand.* Linda Baker is a freelance environmental publicistAccording to Colin Nott, a co-ordinator for Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), community game guard Kauhepere Musaso and conservancy resident Albertus Kasaona are being treated for bite and scratch wounds to their hands and arms.Apparently two conservancy game guards, Epson Mbunguha and Musaso, were called in by a local farmer to investigate stock predation.They were accompanied by the farmer’s son, Kasoana.The three men found cheetah spoor around the stock enclosure where problems had been experienced and presumed the predator was a cheetah.They waited nearby to see if the animal would return.According to Nott, stock became restless around midnight.”As it was full moon, the men were able to see an animal disappear into nearby bushes, about 20 metres from where they were standing.Thinking it was a cheetah, they threw rocks into the bushes in an attempt to scare it away,” Nott told The Namibian. Suddenly, a leopard emerged and sprang at Kasoana, taking hold of one arm and knocking him to the ground.Although he was armed with a rifle, he was not able to shoot the animal before it attacked him and he dropped the rifle.Musaso managed to clamber on top of the animal and began to wrestle it off Kasoana.”This action probably saved Kasoana’s life,” commented Nott.But the leopard then turned its attention to Musaso and attacked him, injuring his arms.Musaso shouted to Kasoana to shoot the predator, but he was not able to pick up or use the rifle due to injuries he had sustained.”Musaso managed to grab the rifle and shot the leopard through the lungs.The body of the animal went limp and the pair presumed that the animal was dead,” Nott continued.But the ordeal was not over.The leopard sprang to life and again attacked Musaso.Meanwhile Mbunghe, who had managed to run away when the animal first attacked, secured the leopard by the leg and hacked at it with a panga.He chopped at it several times, causing head injuries, and continued to do so until the animal was obviously dead.The men were taken to the Sesfontein Clinic, before they were rushed through to the State Hospital at Opuwo, where they received tetanus injections.They were later moved to the Outjo State Hospital where they are currently receiving anti-infection treatment.Both men have extensive injuries to their hands and arms. According to Windhoek Veterinarian Ulf Tubbesing, who has extensive experience with leopards, the animals rarely attack humans unless provoked.Although he was unfamiliar with the details of the incident, he felt there must have been a trigger that aggravated the leopard.”Depending on whether the animal was male or female, it could have been protecting kittens or protecting a kill.It could also have felt trapped and been provoked by the men when they threw rocks at it.It is interesting that it did not move off when this happened.”He commented that leopards are one of the most frequent cats to be found in the veld but rarely attack humans, and if they do, they usually growl as a warning beforehand.* Linda Baker is a freelance environmental publicist